Stencil1 Interview

I didn’t decide to be one, I slowly moved into a more creative business and with that, found more time to be creative with my hands and make more art. After producing art for a few years, I got comfortable with that tile.

Now, when I started Stencil1 that was out of wanting to finally do my own thing. I was working for a agencies and did not find it satisfying so i built Stencil1.com and started selling stencils. It took off rather fast and became a full-time job, then a company!

Where do you find your inspiration?

I find inspiration in travel, nature, retro films and imagery, and living in NYC. With travel, you see architecture and pattern that may not be in your everyday life. Nature is a big theme in some of my designs and the naturally occurring geometry of nature amazes me, inside a flower, a seashell, etc. And NYC has grit and graffiti that I like just as much as the fashionable people and odd characters that are my neighbors.

If you could work with another artist, who would it be? / who is your favorite artist?

Well, they sadly have all passed but I have a love for Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali are my top picks. For those alive, I would say Olek, Swoon, and Banksy. There is a charity I want to start and would like to work with major artists such as these contemporary artists to benefit good causes. Favorite artist? Ah so many, that is difficult, maybe Dali.

What has been the best moment in your career?

I would say launching my books with Chronicle Books. Also, being on Martha Stewart. And now is a good time as I am a small business with product all made here in the US and yet I am up in the big leagues with major corporations. Excited for the future!

We love Martha!

What is your ideal day?

Ideal day is painting. Not quickbooks, not orders, not even designing, it’s the freedom of painting!